Healthcare Social Workers pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,640 a year or less, while the top 10% make $106,540 or more. The middle half of healthcare social workers in Washington earn between $64,370 and $93,930.
- $52K10th
- $64K25th
- $81KMedian
- $94K75th
- $107K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $80,480 | $6,707 | $38.69 |
| Median | $80,710 | $6,726 | $38.80 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $64,370 | $5,364 | $30.95 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $93,930 | $7,828 | $45.16 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Healthcare Social Workers pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Healthcare social workers in Washington earn 14% less than the Washington, D.C. average ($93,120) and 12% more than the U.S. average ($71,790). At the median the gap is +19% against the U.S. median of $67,880.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $80,480 | $80,710 | $51,640 | $106,540 | 2,210 |
| Washington, D.C. | $93,120 | $94,100 | $60,970 | $124,230 | 420 |
| United States | $71,790 | $67,880 | $46,220 | $100,360 | 187,630 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Healthcare Social Workers salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $80,480, a single filer in Washington takes home about $61,575 a year, or $5,131 a month and $2,368 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $62,651 | $5,221 |
| Working in MD | $61,836 | $5,153 |
| Working in VA | $61,634 | $5,136 |
| Working in DC | $61,575 | $5,131 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for healthcare social workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $80,480 buys what about $73,914 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 7.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Healthcare Social Workers salary in nearby metro areas
- Hagerstown, MD$74,970
- Baltimore, MD$70,600
- Winchester, VA$64,020
- Lexington Park, MD$74,420
- Chambersburg, PA$64,430
- Harrisonburg, VA$69,270
Highest-paying cities for healthcare social workers
Napa, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($129,130).
- Napa, CA$129,130
- San Luis Obispo, CA$112,750
- Vallejo, CA$112,700
- San Jose, CA$108,280
- Santa Rosa, CA$106,760
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Healthcare Social Workers salary in Washington: questions
How much do healthcare social workers make an hour in Washington?
$38.69 an hour on average, and $38.81 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level healthcare social workers salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,640 a year and the 25th percentile is $64,370, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the healthcare social workers take-home pay in Washington?
About $61,575 a year ($5,131 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $80,480.
Do healthcare social workers earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% more than the U.S. average for this job ($71,790).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 21-1022; area Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.58, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.58).
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